It might be true that nothing at Disneyland these days is really hidden away, not with record crowds, but it's still worth checking out the newest eatery, called the Tropical Hideaway.

Sandwiched in between the Enchanted Tiki Room and the Jungle Cruise, this new outdoor dining spot provides a rustic river-view deck and iron tables and chairs, along with an experience designed to thrust you in the mood for adventurous locales.

It's officially scheduled to open Friday, Dec. 21, but expect to find people lined up to experience a soft opening now. You can get into the Tropical Hideaway three ways - from the main entrance in Adventureland, from the Enchanted Tiki Room or from the Jungle Cruise exit.

Here's what you want to know:

A first-ever Dole Whip bar with new flavors and toppings, including orange and raspberry. Ask for a swirl or even a "hidden menu" topped with candied bacon bits.

It's a "grab-and-go" space with open seating that will be open during all park hours. No mobile ordering is yet available.

If you order the "Twisted Ambush" special Dole Whip topped with real fruit topping, toasted coconut and chocolate spears, the server will bang a gong to celebrate.

The main savory meal available Wednesday was an Asian-style bao bun filled with one of three fillings - vegetable, chicken or beef. Menu price: $5.99 each. If you want it spicy, order the hot sauce which is 59 cents extra.

A sweet lumpia egg roll filled with cream cheese was also on offer, priced at $6.99 for two. Other foods planned for the menu include a "shaken salad" in a cup.

Jungle Cruise skippers are slated to come out periodically for meet-and-greets with diners.

The animatronic cockatoo "Rosita" from the Enchanted Tiki Room holds court daily, entertaining people with her jokes and patter.

Check out the "lamp sellers' corner" where designers reused the Moroccan lamps from the former Aladdin's Oasis.

Fans of mouse ears note that the hideaway is selling plumeria-decorated mouse ear headbands from the Aulani Disney resort in Hawaii for $30 each.

The dining spot is built in a space that was originally a Polynesian-themed dinner theater called the Tahitian Terrace and later became Aladdin's Oasis.

Walt Disney Imagineering art director Michael Dobrzycki, who designed the space, was on hand Wednesday morning to show visitors around. He said this was a chance to take an underused space and do something special with it. It took 18 months to plan and design the project since the first concept drawings, he said.

Disneyland planners are working fervently to convert every usable cubic inch of space in the park into either new attractions, dining or walkways to expand its footprint in preparation for the massive crowds expected when Star Wars:Galaxy's Edge opens in 2019.

"My favorite thing is the background music," Dobrzycki said. "At dusk, they turn on the tiki torches and the second background music (loop) plays. It's more romantic. During the day, we've got some musical numbers for the hardcore Tiki Room fans, that were eliminated when they shortened the show. This music hasn't been heard in years, but you can hear it here."

Disney always has to tell a story, and this new eatery was inspired by a riverfront marketplace in the jungle, where jungle boat skippers and other locals eat up whatever the boats have brought in that day. Asked what the Jungle Cruise boat captains would be saying to diners when they arrive, Dobrzycki said, "It's really hard to tame a skipper."

Disneyland's culinary director, Jonny Hall, said this is the first time that the park has introduced new flavors to the traditional Dole Whip frozen dessert, which often engenders long lines nearby. After testing on cast members, he said so far the biggest hit has been the pineapple-raspberry swirl.

"That's the most ordered item, but we have the ability to change things out with seasonal ingredients, based on the response from our guests."

He said that chefs spent a year designing the menu, which was tested internally at Disney, including being tried out during executive luncheons.

"A lot of people have tried a lot of bao buns, at this point," Hall said.